Atria Pages 'Latino Dr. Phil'

Simon & Schuster's Atria Books division will launch a new Hispanic and Latino publishing program next spring and hired Johanna Castillo to head the unit. Castillo, who will start February 1, has been an agent with Sanford J. Greenburger Associates where she has represented about 30 Latino writers, some of whom may well end up on her list.

The new line will include fiction, nonfiction and lifestyle titles. "We'll be doing what we do at Atria," explained Atria publisher Judith Curr about the types of books to be released under the new program. "We're hoping Johanna can find the Latino Dr. Phil." All books will be released in English, and some will be published simultaneously in English and Spanish. Curr said she is aiming to reach the growing Latino market that reads English, but is looking for material geared to their interests. Curr said Castillo not only has an eye for talent, but "has great ideas on how to get the books into the marketplace." Curr said she expects that the as yet unnamed line will do about 10 titles annually, although that number could fluctuate depending on the projects that become available. Atria previously has done some Spanish translations, and that will continue, Curr said.